Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Clinet opens slowly to reveal vibrant red and black fruits: red currants, black cherries, plums and cassis with touches of roses, yeast extract, wood smoke and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and a taut, muscular palate of tightly wound fruits and compelling mineral accents, it finishes long with wonderful purity and fragrant earth accents.Ronan Laborde, head of Ch?teau Clinet, mentioned, "We lost in total around 15% of the crop at Clinet in 2017. We received a little damage on the last night of the frosts?going down the plateau toward Feytit-Clinet." The final lithe, energetic blend came in at just 13.1% alcohol. “We don’t use any concentration methods here,” Laborde said. They are also using more 500-liter barrels for the elevage, wanting “the impact of oak to be as soft as possible.” I have to say, I’ve been incredibly impressed with the subtle evolution of Clinet in recent years, revealing an incredibly elegant and sensuous side to the site with incredible purity and depth.